Volunteers help new garden grow at Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet

Students at Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet fill up their newly built garden classroom.

Students at Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet now have a new classroom, although it lacks a chalkboard or books or even walls. No, these students will be digging in the dirt, watching plant life grow and otherwise getting an outdoor education in “The Garden of Life.”

It was a labor of love bolstered by volunteers. Landscape architect Curtis Scoggins got a team together to professionally grade the uneven space, adding ground cover to help prevent weeds from popping through. After that, Lowes Heroes showed up with 14 garden boxes, which they filled with proper soils so the sites would be ready for the kids to plant. Bonney Plants provided more than 1,00 starter plants, with pollinators from Brumley Gardens, ensuring every student had something to plant last week.

“From the water cycle, to the rotation of the earth, conservation and insects, our teachers are committed to using this hands on tool to enhance all subjects,” says Andrea Hauglie, community liaison for the school. “Gretchen Caudell and Stacy Holmes are our dedicated parents who have made this happen.”

Students at Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet fill up their newly built garden classroom.Students at Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet fill up their newly built garden classroom.Students at Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet fill up their newly built garden classroom.